That isn’t what’s happening. Yes, they’ve evoked Mr. Thomas’ name. Yes, what they say about him is true. Let’s remember him in some of his last words.
With that said. What is happening here with road renamings? It’s quite simple. RAGS LLC wants the price in downtown to be at a certain level. So, when Pinehurst Catering entered the market at $500K an acre. I imagine Mr. Sylvain called Mr. Alexander to put the kibosh on downtown winning & escaping this madness. In the April 13 meeting Alexander said he used the name General Lee as an anecdote. Well, no. February 24 he said, “that road is definitely named for General Lee.” Then city staff enshrined that sentiment in the agenda for March 9.
March 31. Even though there were numerous speakers over many meetings against the renaming from downtown & the only two speakers for the renaming were from many miles outside of downtown. The new triumvirate of Cloud, Alexander and Gantt voted for the street name change. Nevermind the lies, Confederates, aspersions, etc. Now it was about honor. Truth be told, it’s only about city hall, “showing us who’s boss” after we ran roughshod over them all year. When you can’t build a pedestrian bridge, trail, alleyway, fire station redevelopment, cultural arts center or splash pad… when you can’t do that for a decade. You rename things for attention.
When you have one disastrous name change lambasted in the press. You have to do another and pretend this is what you were doing all along. Remember to stay sentimental about honor & justice while functionally only being a detriment to the people downtown right now. You got old ladies crying on camera? Better knock out that camera angle totally. Tell the people, “they’re working on it” until they go away and stop asking questions. Never admit to hypocrisy.
So, I hear what you say about Thomas. When he renamed a street he had a committee, a body of research & calls with the King family. Most importantly, the man had credibility behind his Green Front Cafe historical endeavor.
This embodiment of the council is incredible. What they’re doing right now is an extension of everything that’s been happening downtown since the 2004 eminent domain battle. This city was hollowed out. As the same time, the DDA and J.T. Williams vacuumed up millions of dollars to build, essentially, the crap behind Dairy Queen near the hospital. You see, in the April 13, 2026 meeting Mr. Anderson revealed downtown is the new priority. But he could barely mention this side of town before Mr. Atlanta-South interjected some horns-waggle about Eagle’s Landing Parkway.
The road renamings are meaningless as to prosperity in the long run. They’re meant to distract you from what’s really happening. That is the picking of your pocket by Eagle’s Landing once again as is the 25 year tradition of this city.
Anyway. Thanks for participating, Henry Herald. Watch out for them bad ‘ol Confederates hiding out in the high chaparral…
